Apr 2012 - Wey Kayak Club

Wey Kayak Club
Newsletter
April 2012
www.weykayak.co.uk
Contents
Pg 1 AGM Chairman’s Report
Pg 3 Annual Awards
Pg 4 Hare & Hounds/Dash-Hound
Pg 5 Paddler Profile – Paul Wycherley
Sport Relief/Fundraising
Pg 6 Racing Report and Event Details
Pg 7 Hasler Information
Pg 8 Calendar
Chairman’s Report
2011 was a great year for the Club at
International events. We again had 20
paddlers racing for Great Britain, with many
medals, including those at European and World
Championships. Wey provided 5 out of 9
paddlers at the World Marathon Champs in
Singapore and 3 of our paddlers helped to
qualify 3 boats for the Olympic Games. We
have our Awards presentations to recognise all
these and others.
As I have said many times before, it is our
strong coaching which is the foundation of the
Club and our 5 week Newcomers Courses
were again a great success, organised by Dave
Halliwell and staffed by a large number of
coaches, co-ordinated by John Lea. These
operated over 8 months and saw 120
newcomers try out our sport.
These newcomers joined our Saturday Training
Groups with Malcolm, Mike and John at the
helm. Our Under 14 group run by Pam, Kathryn
and Marthe, and assisted by some of our vets
has gone from strength to strength. Peter and
Cathy, as our part time Participation Coaches
continued to work with our School/Club links.
Russell Jones, based here, working for Canoe
England, has set up a good working
relationship with Sarah and Mike Childerstone
working with our top juniors. Mike has done a
great job chairing the Coaching Committee and
working behind the scenes to support the
coaches. We have also gained from Pete
Gorman’s experience on the coaching team.
Eric, John and Gabor have provided great
impetus to the canoe squad, which is growing
all the time and is now including young ladies.
Discussions are being held with Canoe
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England and GB Canoeing
to try and formalise the canoe coaching
structure at the Club.
Our Club Welfare Officer Annie Welch has
worked hard behind the scenes to ensure we
are well protected in all our activities. She has
had to deal with some sensitive issues and we
are very grateful for her work. Associated with
this role for the future is the introduction of
Para-canoeing into the Para Olympics for 2016.
You will understand that we have ideal facilities
here for training for those who have lost limbs
or the use of them and I am sure this section of
canoeing will develop here.
We ran a very successful event programme,
with Hare & Hounds, Dash-Hound, Wey Sprint,
and Wey Marathon events. Phil Sampson,
Gordon Wycherley, Mike Childerstone, and I,
along with a large group of helpers, made these
events happen. The boat repairers, the kitchen
team, the bar team etc., all play a major part in
the Clubs activities. Without all these
volunteers, the Club could not run, and we
could not paddle. I think the ‘on the house’
bacon rolls and drinks have continued to be
well received by volunteers.
The new Sportivate programme, introduced by
Sport England has enabled us to receive
financial support for the 14 to 25 age group that
have joined or used the Club for courses.
We won many individual medals at the National
Championship Events. The Club were
consistently up at the top in the National Team
competitions, although we did not win any title.
Thanks again to Mike Childerstone for acting as
Team Leader.
Annie Welch has continued with her hard work
on the Newsletter, which we publish on the

website, and send to all those on the Club e-
mail list. Hard Copies are also available at the
Club.
Richard Cawthorn continues with his excellent
work with our website and Antony Edmonds
has again provided some great photography.
Phil Sampson put in a tremendous amount of
work on the Club database during the year for
which we are very grateful. This has enabled
Richard Cawthorn to revamp our membership
renewal, course application and membership
application system and an on-line membership
facility is now in place for 2012. This has
enabled us to keep a close eye on who has
paid and who needs reminding that they have
not!!!
In their first year of operation, our Bosons, Rob
and Nathan, have does a great job in keeping
on top of the repairs to our fleet. We are
always looking for help in this field, so anybody
with mechanical and fibre glassing skills,
please come forward.
We had a fun evening at the Christmas Dinner.
A special vote of thanks goes to Linda and her
team of helpers, along with Andy and Joe, who
compared the evening. The food was provided
with the great help of Nigel and the Cranleigh
kitchens.
The new operation in the Kitchen has resulted
in many people cooking for us. Thanks go to
Jill and her team of helpers at the main Club
events. We want the kitchen to provide a base
for the social side of the Club, but we need to
extend the number of people who help so the
load does not fall on just a few. Please sign the
rota.
In general, the Member Clubs have been
working very well together in the operation of
the Waterside Centre. The fob entry system is
working well, giving us more security and
making life easier for those with crutches and in
wheel chairs. Security and energy saving
always remain an issue and great concern
however. We do need everybody to play their
part in ensuring that the Centre main building
and the Gym are locked up with all lights and
fans turned off when the last people leave.
As reported at the last AGM, the MSTG have
proposed a plan to increase the facilities, which
is supported by the Trustees of the GWC.
They want to have a larger Hypobaric Chamber
for their treatments. The plans include more
Gym space to have a separate free weights
area. Wey KC is taking the opportunity to
include more storage space. The discussions
with the National Trust, the EA and Guildford
Borough Councils from who we lease the land,
have been protracted to say the least.
Finalisation of the plans mean we are likely, we
hope, to go to the planners in the next 2
months.
I think we have a fantastic building to operate
from and provide a club, which is extremely
good value and the envy of many. We must
treat the building with respect, and respect the
other users.
The new bike shed is up and running, so NO
bikes in the building from now on please.
Please remember, wipe your feet, NO wet kit in
the Lounge or Training Hall, especially on the
new seats. Most important of all, is hygiene in
the Kitchen, so ONLY food and drink in there,
no kit, bags, or equipment.
Parking and access are always going to be an
issue. We need everybody to park carefully
and considerately and not in front of the divers
sheds. They need access at all times to get
their trailers out and to work on their
equipment.
We have been working hard with Canoe
England to maintain the standard required for
our Top Club Gold status. I think we are the
only club in the South of England to achieve
this, and one of the few in the whole of GB.
Again this reflects the very high standard that
we operate at. It is a credit to you all. Some of
the requirements for the TCG are being dealt
with in the Proposals being put forward to the
Meeting.
2011 saw our membership move to a new high
level of nearly 450 when you take into account
all those who joined after the Introductory
Courses. This is great, of course, but has
increased the amount of work for all our
committee and coaches and put a greater
strain on our boats. For 2012 we have decided
that those doing courses do so as a one off
experience and that they, and any other
newcomers apply for membership and we will
only to allow them to join, if we have space for
them.
Finally, thanks to the Committee for all their
work and support during 2011. With 400 plus
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members and a turnover of £70,000 we are, in
effect, running a small business. I have
highlighted to the Committee and the ‘elder
statesmen’ just what I think is involved in
running the Club. There are many outside
agencies that we have to deal and interact with,
local, regional and nationally. For example,
Guildford Waterside Centre, National Trust,
Sport Guildford, Surrey CC (Sport Active and
Youth services), Canoe England regionally and
nationally etc.
We are extremely fortunate in having a
Committee of experienced, professional and
dedicated people who work hard for the Club
and who also want to go canoeing!!!!
We are always looking, however, for people to
take some of the load. Jim Rossitter 1.3.12
Ji
Sports Personality of the Year
Liam Heath
Chairman’s Trophy for International Sprint Racing Liam Heath
Caterham Trophy for International Marathon
Vicky Croucher
Senior A at BCU National Championships
Mark Childerstone
Senior B at BCU National Championships
Paul Yates
Junior U18 at BCU National Championships
Peter Bannister
Junior U16 at BCU National Championships
Ed Haws
Ladies Trophy
Fay Lamph
Istead Trophy for Best Junior
Ed Haws
Veteran’s Trophy
Adrian Croucher
39th Army Youth Trophy for helper on the water Pam Jamieson
Helpers Trophy (off the water)
Phil Sampson
Eric Jamieson Canoe Trophy
Joe Hayman-Joyce
Best Newcomer
Alex Bicknell
Peter Finch Trophy for Endeavour
Sarah Akerman
Most Improved Paddler
Jed Hodgson
Best Team Boat
Vicky Croucher/ Alice Haws
Fish Award!
Vicky Croucher
Honorary Memberships
Two very special awards were made at the AGM in honour of long and
distinguished service to Wey Kayak Club to
Norma Parlane & Phil Sampson
Congratulations and grateful thanks to them both.
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We ran a successful series with only one reserve date
required due to the weather. A total of 183 paddlers took part
in the series. Three course records were set by Club
members. Well done to Max Jamieson U14M C1 54.48; Ed
Haws U16 40.59 and Fay Lamph on gaining the Ladies
record of 45.20.
Prize winners across the series were as follows:
Club Senior PAUL THOMPSON WEY
Club Junior ALEX BRICKNELL WEY
Visiting Senior LEA HODGKINS RIP
Visiting Junior TOBIAS HAMER CHI
Best Lady SAMANTHA MEDICI ROY
Best Veteran ANDREI DZYMA RIC
Best U16 EMILY HEWITT SOU
Best U14 KEIRA MADDEN ROY
Best U12 LUCY TOZER WEY
Veteran Lady CATHY WEST WEY
The Dash-Hound was hugely successful giving relatively
novice paddlers a taste of handicap racing. Holly Hellyer &
Jordon Martyn took away the U10's most improved awards,
with Kuba Cranmer taking the U12 C1 most improved.
Special merit awards also went to Ella Banks for being the
youngest paddler to complete the series along with merit
awards going to Oliver Ben Said, Henry Fieldus, Jasper &
Felix Morgan.
Oli Etheridge & Jack Roadly picked up awards for their
determined efforts in a K2. Kuba was also awarded the
special merit award on behalf of Eric for his true grit and
determination in completing the series in C1.
On later inspection of the times, Josh Davenport
U10,Samantha Martyn U12 & Tom Goldsack U12 have also
been given awards. Although Richmond paddlers won the
most improved overall it was felt that Josh, Samantha & Tom
should be awarded for their great gains over the series.
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E
vents such as the Hare & Hounds and the Hasler
Marathons are great opportunities for the younger paddler
to start their competitive career and maybe, some 14 years later,
they may be challenging the best in the world for a place in the
Olympic Games.
Paul Wycherley started canoeing at the age of 12 when his
mum brought him to the club to sample the sport that was
to take over his life. He started out in the Saturday
afternoon group, clocked a time of 72 minutes in his first Hare & Hounds just a month later and has
never looked back. Here was a sport he might just be good at, which was not on any school curriculum
and in which no teacher would be comparing him with his cricketing and golfing brother.
He quickly realised that he had some talent and pushed his way into Stan Cox's training group
alongside Liam Heath and Ed Cox. This brought him to the attention of the junior national coaches and
he began to get noticed for his achievements in Boys D and beyond at the national regattas in
Nottingham.
With Stan's departure northwards Paul Dimmock stepped in to look after Paul's blossoming talent, their
partnership culminating in Paul's becoming Junior World Marathon champion in 2004.
Thanks to a lot of hard graft and despite a few knockbacks Paul has risen steadily through the senior
ranks and has now arrived at this most important of Olympic years. While the ladies and the 200m men
bask in the knowledge that they have a clutch of places booked at London 2012, the 1000m men have
just one slot, the K1 event. This means a straight fight between all the contenders for a solitary berth at
the Games and what a daunting task it is. Standing in the way of any pretender is 2008 Gold Medallist,
Tim Brabants.
Yet, last year, Paul beat Tim in a three-way race-off for a place at the World Championships. Whilst
taking nothing for granted, would it be too much to hope that the Wey man can prevail once more
The next couple of months promise to be exciting, even nerve-wracking and it all starts at the first
National Regatta in Nottingham in mid-April. Watch this space......!
Gordon Wycherley
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What a Team! Well done to everyone young and old who turned up and
ran at least a mile in aid of Sport Relief and also to everyone who
sponsored your efforts. An amazing £1,800 was raised (that’s a lot of dog
biscuits)! I was proud to be your mascot, but couldn’t join you as I am
resting a bad leg; it happens to older athletes like me. Raggs xwoof!
The WKC website has a dedicated Fundraising Page that is going to grow
over the coming months to raise money for new paddling equipment, to
pay off loans and to prepare for the new expansion of the Club Facilities in
the pipeline.
A new initiative is to use easyfundraising.com whenever you shop online.
It won't cost you a penny extra to shop online through “easyfundraising”.
It's very simple –
just visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/weykayakclub/ to
register and shop with over 2000 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos,
M&S, eBay and many more. Whenever you buy something, the retailer
makes a donation to Wey Kayak Club. They've helped other causes raise
over £2,000,000 so it really does work.

Over 100 competitors took part in the 2012 edition of the Wey Sprints on Saturday 31 st March
racing over distances of 2000, 1000, 500 and 200 metres, negotiating the odd narrow and not so
narrow boat along the way. The day was rounded off with the now familiar, but never dull 4x100
metre Pass-the-Hat relay. All competitors were awarded an Easter egg for their effort. It’s a pity
the weather decided to have an “off” day as there were a few chilly paddlers and parents/officials.
Still, as a result, the kitchen did a good trade in hot food and drinks! Thanks to all who made the
day run smoothly, especially event organiser Mike Childerstone.
Full results are available on the Website
THE WEY ROVERS ARE BACK!
Regular recreational paddle
Date: every Thursday
Time: 6pm to make the most of
the daylight
Who is it for: Adults who have
been attending on Saturdays and
can paddle to town and back with
no problems. You don't need to
be speedy, we paddle at the rate
of the slowest
Booking: no, just turn up!
Sea Kayaking Outing Planned
Check your e-mail for details or
contact: rovers@weykayak.co.uk
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Hasler Trophy 2012
This is the most significant and prestigious Marathon Championship in the UK.
Wey Kayak Club has won the trophy six times in that past.
The route to the championship is not difficult however it does need commitment from all of our paddlers if
we are to be successful.
This year’s Hasler Final is at Wokingham on 30 th September.
In order to compete in the Hasler Final we need to fulfill 2 important criteria:-
1) We need to finish in the top 4 clubs in the London & South East Region. This requires us to compete at
our regional Hasler Series marathon races which are
22 nd April Wey Marathon
20 th May 1066 Hastings Marathon
17 th June Maidstone Marathon
24 th June Royal Marathon
8 th July Richmond Marathon
19 th August Tonbridge Marathon
2) All competitors need to have competed in 3 Hasler Series Marathons. This means that you can enter
races in other regions to make your personal qualification easier.
Hasler Series races I suggest you enter are:-
6 th May Basingstoke
27 th May Reading Circuit
3 rd June Longridge (Marlow)
1 st July Wokingham
25-26 th August Norwich – National Marathon Championship
If you want to compete in the Hasler Final in a single (K1), you need to compete in 3 qualifying Hasler
Series events.
In addition to the above, GB Team Assessment races also count towards a competitor’s qualification these
are due to take place at:-
29 th April Worcester K1
6 th May Elmbridge K1
27 th May Reading K2
1st July Wokingham
25-26 th August Norwich
The Hasler Final and Hasler Series races are for Division 1 to 9 paddlers and are basically competed over
the following criteria:-
Div 1-3 approximately 20km
Div 4-6 approximately 13km
Div 7-9 approximately 6.5km usually without any portages
You need to be a BCU member (juniors in div 7,8, & 9 are covered under our “club youth membership”),
you also need to be a paid up member of Wey Kayak Club and wear a Wey KC vest at races to enable the
club to score regional points and for you to qualify at any of the above races.
With the Hasler Trophy Final being or our doorstep at Wokingham and on a quality stretch of water it
would be really good opportunity to see you all racing to put Wey Kayak Club back on top of the podium
again.
Please remember that results in Division 9 score the same amount of points for the Club as Division 1.
Any questions – ask me Peter Gorman, Marathon Team manager, Wey.
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6 Apr Richmond Sprints Littleton Lake, Shepperton
8 Apr
14-15
Apr
Elmbridge Junior Half
Marathon
National Sprint Regatta
20km WeyKC to Weybridge. U10 to U16 age groups. Get Mum & Dad
to help you at the locks!
Nottingham
22 Apr WEY MARATHON not to be missed
29 Apr
Worcester K1 assessment
race
MRC international assessment
6 May Basingstoke Canal Marathon Close by (Mytchett) & doesn't clash this year
12-13
May
National Sprint Regatta
Nottingham
20 May Hastings CC 1066 Marathon Hosted by Tonbridge CC
9-10 Jun National Sprint Regatta Nottingham
17 Jun Maidstone Marathon L&SE Regional Hasler
24 Jun Royal Marathon L&SE Regional Hasler
1 Jul Thames Valley Marathon MRC Assessment Race, Wokingham
8 Jul Richmond Marathon L&SE Regional Hasler
21-22
Jul
6-11
Aug
National Sprint Regatta
Olympic Sprint Regatta
Nottingham
Dorney
19 Aug Tonbridge Marathon L&SE Regional Hasler
25-26
Aug
National Marathon
Championships
Norwich
1-2 Sep National Sprint Regatta Nottingham
9 Sep Medway Marathon to Tonbridge
30 Sep Hasler Final Wokingham
7 Oct Elmbridge Marathon L&SE Regional Hasler for 2013
Thank you to those who completed the Newsletter feedback survey at the AGM. Overall there
seemed to be a general feeling that a newsletter is wanted by members and that 4 x a year is
about the right frequency. 56% of respondents felt that more use could be made of the Blog.
“What Blog” Currently at the “News” heading on the website…click on the link to the right
News
Wey Kayak
Blog Site
The news posted there is dependent on members’ willingness to author their stories, but it has
the potential to give more up to date news than the newsletter. If you would like an invitation to
be a Blog Author, contact webmaster@weykayak.co.uk
Rules of decency and respect apply!
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